Business

Old churches find salvation as breweries

At least 10 breweries have opened in old churches since 2011, and at least four more are slated to open in the next year.

By DAKE KANGAssociated Press

At the Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh, an early church-turned-brewery that opened in 1996, patrons slide into booths crafted from pews.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Ira Gerhart finally found a place last year to fulfill his yearslong dream of opening a brewery: a 1923 Presbyterian church. It was cheap, charming and just blocks from downtown Youngstown.